Men with older brothers...

**DaKCMan AP** · 06-26-2006, 09:43 AM

Men with older brothers more likely to be gay

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, Associated Press Writer 35 minutes ago

Having several older brothers increases the likelihood of a man being gay, a finding researchers say adds weight to the idea that there is a biological basis for sexual orientation.

"It's likely to be a prenatal effect," said Anthony F. Bogaert of Brock University in St. Catharines, Canada, "This and other studies suggest that there is probably a biological basis for" homosexuality.

S. Marc Breedlove of Michigan State University said the finding "absolutely" confirms a physical basis.

"Anybody's first guess would have been that the older brothers were having an effect socially, but this data doesn't support that," Breedlove said in a telephone interview.

The only link between the brothers is the mother and so the effect has to be through the mother, especially since stepbrothers didn't have the effect, said Breedlove, who was not part of the research.

Bogaert studied four groups of Canadian men, a total of 944 people, analyzing the number of brothers and sisters each had, whether or not they lived with those siblings and whether the siblings were related by blood or adopted.

He reports in a paper appearing in Tuesday's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that having several biological older brothers increased the chance of a man being gay.

It's an effect that can be detected with one older brother and becomes stronger with three or four or more, Bogaert said in a telephone interview.

But, he added, this needs to be looked at in context of the overall rate of homosexuality in men, which he suggested is about 3 percent. With several older brothers the rate may increase from 3 percent to 5 percent, he said, but that still means 95 percent of men with several older brothers are heterosexual.

The effect of birth order on male homosexuality has been reported previously but Bogaert's work is the first designed to rule out social or environmental effects.

Bogaert said he concluded the effect was biological by comparing men with biological brothers to those with brothers to whom they were not biologically related.

The increase in the likelihood of being gay was seen only in those whose brothers had the same mothers, whether they were raised together or not, he said.

Men raised with several older step- or adopted brothers do not have an increased chance of being gay.

"So what that means is that the environment a person is raised in really makes not much difference," he said.

What makes a difference, he said, is having older brothers who shared the same womb and gestational experience, suggesting the difference is because of "some sort of prenatal factor."

One possibility, he suggests, is a maternal immune response to succeeding male fetuses. The mother may react to a male fetus as foreign but not to a female fetus because the mother is also female.
It might be like the maternal immune response that can occur when a mother has Rh-negative blood but her fetus has Rh-positive blood. Without treatment, the mother can develop antibodies that may attack the fetus during future pregnancies.
Whether that's what is happening remains to be seen, but it is a provocative hypothesis, said a commentary by Breedlove, David A. Puts and Cynthia L. Jordan, all of Michigan State. The research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060626/...al_orientation

**DaKCMan AP** · 06-26-2006, 09:47 AM

I win.

06-26-2006, 09:54 AM

I've done a little research of my own and determined that the only people who care who is a bundle of sticks are bundle of stickss themselves.

Eleazar · 06-26-2006, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

I've done a little research of my own and determined that the only people who care who is a Rump Ranger are Rump Rangers themselves.

You're forgetting people trying to spread ideology in the lounge...

htismaqe · 06-26-2006, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

You're forgetting people trying to spread ideology in the lounge...

Unfortunately, Denise' attempt is a repost.

Mr. Laz · 06-26-2006, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

I've done a little research of my own and determined that the only people who care who is a Rump Ranger are Rump Rangers themselves.

how old is your brother?

06-26-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

how old is your brother?

See?

I rest my case.

Mr. Laz · 06-26-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

See?

I rest my case.

i have no older brother, therefore i can't be gay.

sorry to disappoint ...... i think GoChiefs is available though.

penchief · 06-26-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

I've done a little research of my own and determined that the only people who care who is a Rump Ranger are Rump Rangers themselves.

Does that mean all those homophobes (ala Bush) who are obsessed with gays are also rump rangers?

Hammock Parties · 06-26-2006, 11:34 AM

I have two sisters.

**Rain Man** · 06-26-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

I have two sisters.

Would that make you a lesbian?

06-26-2006, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penchief

Does that mean all those homophobes (ala Bush) who are obsessed with gays are also rump rangers?

I haven't given it much thought. You make the call.

penchief · 06-26-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

I haven't given it much thought. You make the call.

I haven't given it much thought either and I'm not much interested in making a judgment about it. Just wasn't clear if you meant everybody that concerns themselves with gays or just gays that concern themselves with gays.

No biggie, though.

**Rain Man** · 06-26-2006, 10:21 AM

Does this mean that noogies cause homosexuality?

06-26-2006, 09:43 AM	Topic Starter
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $6724952	Men with older brothers... Men with older brothers more likely to be gay By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, Associated Press Writer 35 minutes ago Having several older brothers increases the likelihood of a man being gay, a finding researchers say adds weight to the idea that there is a biological basis for sexual orientation. "It's likely to be a prenatal effect," said Anthony F. Bogaert of Brock University in St. Catharines, Canada, "This and other studies suggest that there is probably a biological basis for" homosexuality. S. Marc Breedlove of Michigan State University said the finding "absolutely" confirms a physical basis. "Anybody's first guess would have been that the older brothers were having an effect socially, but this data doesn't support that," Breedlove said in a telephone interview. The only link between the brothers is the mother and so the effect has to be through the mother, especially since stepbrothers didn't have the effect, said Breedlove, who was not part of the research. Bogaert studied four groups of Canadian men, a total of 944 people, analyzing the number of brothers and sisters each had, whether or not they lived with those siblings and whether the siblings were related by blood or adopted. He reports in a paper appearing in Tuesday's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that having several biological older brothers increased the chance of a man being gay. It's an effect that can be detected with one older brother and becomes stronger with three or four or more, Bogaert said in a telephone interview. But, he added, this needs to be looked at in context of the overall rate of homosexuality in men, which he suggested is about 3 percent. With several older brothers the rate may increase from 3 percent to 5 percent, he said, but that still means 95 percent of men with several older brothers are heterosexual. The effect of birth order on male homosexuality has been reported previously but Bogaert's work is the first designed to rule out social or environmental effects. Bogaert said he concluded the effect was biological by comparing men with biological brothers to those with brothers to whom they were not biologically related. The increase in the likelihood of being gay was seen only in those whose brothers had the same mothers, whether they were raised together or not, he said. Men raised with several older step- or adopted brothers do not have an increased chance of being gay. "So what that means is that the environment a person is raised in really makes not much difference," he said. What makes a difference, he said, is having older brothers who shared the same womb and gestational experience, suggesting the difference is because of "some sort of prenatal factor." One possibility, he suggests, is a maternal immune response to succeeding male fetuses. The mother may react to a male fetus as foreign but not to a female fetus because the mother is also female. It might be like the maternal immune response that can occur when a mother has Rh-negative blood but her fetus has Rh-positive blood. Without treatment, the mother can develop antibodies that may attack the fetus during future pregnancies. Whether that's what is happening remains to be seen, but it is a provocative hypothesis, said a commentary by Breedlove, David A. Puts and Cynthia L. Jordan, all of Michigan State. The research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060626/...al_orientation
Posts: 35,695

06-26-2006, 09:47 AM	#3
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $6724952	I win. __________________
Posts: 35,695

06-26-2006, 09:54 AM	#4
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	I've done a little research of my own and determined that the only people who care who is a bundle of sticks are bundle of stickss themselves.
Posts: n/a

06-26-2006, 11:34 AM	#11
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4630478	I have two sisters. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 278,147

06-26-2006, 10:21 AM	#15
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3238491 VARSITY	Does this mean that noogies cause homosexuality? __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
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